British parliament will hold a rare two-year legislative session to tackle Brexit complexities

London Mercury - Sunday 18th June, 2017

British government's plan for the next parliament will be outlined in the Queen's speech

Britain's negotiations with the EU over its exit from the bloc begins on Monday

Negotiations set to be complicated after Prime Minister Theresa May lost parliamentary majority

LONDON, U.K. - With Britain's negotiations with the EU over its exit from the bloc set to begin on Monday, talks are expected to be more complicated than ever after Prime Minister Theresa May lost her parliamentary majority in a national election last week.

All eyes are now on the Queen’s speech scheduled for Wednesday, as she would be outlining the British government's plan for the next parliament, including laws needed to deliver Brexit and the new immigration legislation.

The government pointed out that there will be no Queen's Speech next year and that the British parliament will hold a rare two-year legislative session to tackle the complexities of Britain's departure from the European Union.

The Queen's Speech, which traditionally takes place during the ceremonial State Opening Of Parliament, was earlier scheduled to be held on Monday but was put off until Wednesday, as May’s minority government seeks a deal with the DUP.

A parliamentary session usually runs for a year, from spring to spring - however, the government will double the length of the session to let lawmakers debate Britain's approach to Brexit without interruption.

The last time the Queen’s speech was cancelled was in 2011 by the then Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government.

It was the first time since 1949 that such a decision was made and was eventually criticised at the time by Labour as an "abuse of power" aimed solely at easing the passage of controversial legislation.

Earlier in the day, Andrea Leadsom, leader of the Britain's lower legislative house revealed that the next parliamentary session was being doubled in length to two years.

In March this year, Britain gave official notification to the bloc that it would leave its biggest trading partner, the EU at the end of a two-year period.

Senior Tories have now admitted that Brexit talks will leave British politics crippled for next two years.

In a statement, Leadsom said that Brexit would require a lot of legislation, including a law to enshrine current EU rules into British law, known as the "Great Repeal Bill".

Leadsom said, “While our top priority right now is supporting the victims of the terrible tragedy at Grenfell tower, we also need to look ahead by setting out a legislative programme that not only delivers a successful EU exit but also a domestic agenda which aims to tackle the social injustices in our country. The U.K. will spend the next two years preparing for our departure from the European Union in a way that best places us to realise the opportunities ahead and build a fairer society. This will require substantial amounts of legislation, beginning with the Great Repeal Bill.”

Adding, “We will build the broadest possible consensus for our Brexit plans and that means giving Parliament the maximum amount of time to scrutinise these bills by holding a two-year session of Parliament. It will mean we can work together to deliver a successful Brexit deal and a strong social legislative programme that delivers justice and opportunity to everyone.”

Leadsom revealed that some MPs will spend the next 24 months at Westminster working on Britain quitting the EU.

She added that the government also wanted to pass "a domestic agenda which aims to tackle the social injustices in our country.”

Following the decision, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused the government of being "in no position to negotiate a good deal for Britain" with the EU.

In comments in the Sunday Mirror, Corbyn wrote that if the prime minister "can't command the support of Parliament, we are ready to take that responsibility.”

Meanwhile, on Monday, on agenda in Brussels is discussions on the future of British expats in Europe, the U.K.’s “divorce bill” from the EU – expected to be about 35 billion pounds – and the Northern Ireland border.

Talks will be kicked off by Brexit Secretary David Davis and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier.

Davis said, “As I head to Brussels to open official talks to leave the EU, there should be no doubt – we are leaving the European Union and delivering on that historic referendum result. Now, the hard work begins. We must secure a deal that works for all parts of the United Kingdom, and enables us to become a truly global Britain. Leaving gives us the opportunity to forge a bright new future for the U.K. – where we are free to control our borders, pass our own laws and do what independent sovereign countries do.”

Meanwhile, the SNP’s new Westminster leader Ian Blackford, who was elected to the post last week after Angus Robertson lost his Westminster seat, insisted that the “humbled” Tory Government must abandon a hard Brexit.

Blackford said negotiations should involve the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments.

Adding, “With Brexit negotiations set to begin, the election has made it crystal clear that the Tory position of a hard Brexit does not carry the support of the public, and any attempt to plough on regardless will have damaging consequences for Scotland and the U.K. Theresa May asked the electorate to strengthen her hand, but instead they have cut the Tories down to size. Voters gave a clear instruction that the Conservatives cannot govern alone and must now reach out to others. The Prime Minister must ensure the Brexit negotiations are representative of all the U.K. nations and aim for an outcome which protects Scotland’s interests, particularly our continued place in the single market. They must also change course on austerity, which is putting so much pressure on public services and pushing more and more working families and children into a life of poverty. Another parliament of Tory cuts is a political choice – not a necessity – and it has been rejected by voters.”

Reports pointed out that last week’s election result makes a soft Brexit, with less restrictions on EU workers, more likely.

Senior Conservative sources have said that eurosceptic lawmakers in May’s party are meanwhile set to challenge her leadership if she seeks to water down her plans for Brexit.

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